Police called to defuse village's clamping stand-off

Michelle Davis receives a refund after her car is clamped at The Kings Arms pub in Bagshot

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BAGSHOT was the scene of a dramatic stand-off as council staff and furious motorists stood up to clampers.

More than 50 people rose up in protest outside The Hungry Horse at the illegal action taken by Greater London Parking Management Ltd.

Police had to be called to try to defuse the situation.

Up to ten cars were clamped and two were towed away to an undisclosed destination in Uxbridge.

The situation unfolded on Wednesday morning when shoppers and businessmen and women parked in the pub car park at the rear of the premises because there were no spaces in the large car park behind Somerfield supermarket.

In 2002 an agreement was made between Surrey Heath Borough Council and Greene King, owner of the pub, that they could build a car park at the rear of the premises provided motorists could use it on a short term basis.

As part of that agreement no clamping equipment can be used on any vehicles parked in the car park.

However, at some point during Tuesday night the pub put signs up in the car park stating motorists who were not customers of The Hungry Horse would have their vehicle clamped. This was a breach of the agreement.

At 10.30am the first motorists discovered their cars had been clamped, and quickly friends, relatives and colleagues rushed to their aid and confront the clampers.

Sara Eaton, who had her car towed away, said: “I got here at 9am and came back at 10.30am. When I arrived I found my car was gone. I asked the clampers and gave them my registration and they said it’s been towed to Heathrow. They want £335 otherwise they won’t tell me where my car is.

“I live in Farnborough and am supposed to be picking up my kid from school at 3pm.” Jon Bradbury, who lives in Wokingham, also had his car towed.

He said: “I was due to have a meeting in the pub at 1pm. At 12.55pm I saw a commotion, about 50 people standing around. I went and had a look and all became clear.

“I saw a space where my car had been. I thought I’d perhaps got it wrong where I parked so I wandered out into the large car park but then it dawned on me.

Diane Leavers, who works at a chartered accountants in Bagshot, handed over £300 to have her car freed after she was told it would be towed away if she didn’t pay up. She then called the council to alert them to the situation.

Frank Gunn, parking services manager at the council, immediately sent a vehicle to the scene to block the entrance to the car park and prevent the tow truck getting in and taking any more cars away.

Mr Gunn, who attended the scene to resolve the situation, said: “When I received a phone call informing me of the situation I dispatched the parking vehicle to the car park to prevent any removal of vehicles. The tow truck came and attempted to take away some vehicles but I will not allow that.

“The order to have the cars clamped came from the manager of the pub. I have given her a copy of the legal agreement. She now knows that she was in breach of the agreement. “I’ve spoken to her and said that she must take the concerns of those who have paid out. We will be writing to Greene King.

“She is trying to get the clampers to leave but they will not move without an instruction from their head office.”

Among those to fall victim to the clampers was Helen Hepworth. She was having her hair cut when she was told by the salon’s staff that her car had been clamped.

Still wearing a gown and with her hair half-dyed she rushed across the road to her car and was told she would have to pay £300 to free it.

“I had to go to the bank to get the money and my car is now out of the car park,” she said. “This is the only place to park as everywhere else is just 30-minute parking. I’ve been parking here for more than two years and never had this problem.

“I was thinking, £300 just before Christmas. It’s a lot of money — more than a week’s wages.”

Leanne Way, 20, who works at Colour House hair salon in the High Street, also had her car clamped.

She managed to get the money together but was left in tears by the ordeal.

She said: “I’m really upset. I haven’t got £300. I said I could pay it with a credit card as I don’t carry that kind of money on me but they said it had to be cash.

“I want my money back. It’s not fair.”

At 3pm, the pub eventually agreed to refund those who had paid to have the clamps taken off their cars. However, after emptying all four tills the manager did not have enough to pay everyone and asked them to return the next morning.

Those who had their cars towed away were told they would have to drive to the car pound and pay £335 to collect it.

It was unclear whether they would be refunded by the pub when the News went to press on November 21.